Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-01-30

- 81 Oea114N-AAs - 49, &A@@ NANF&9A w
b regarded as even taeitly favorine
hat 10 which ills unaltsFabiy opposed.
This should be 3 suflscisnk explanation
II the coarse taken, even II there we're
none other.
Bat there ars eshers. SuffFagists
the country are constantly
sclsring the suffrage experiment in
Washington Territory to be an usq0al-
lied success. They assert that there 10
no opposition to IL. and that
The citizens Of the Territory are pEacti-
calIy unitsd In iss support. For two
years this has been one Of their stock
argumenta They have used It on all
occasions, and 1t has naturally had iis
influence. People reason that, II WOMAN
suffrage has been 50 great . success in
Washington Territory that the entire
population IL enthusiastically in lie
favor, Il would be equally successful
II Is not Just TO the people
Of the Territory, il is not Just TO the
anti sudraeists throughout the United
States, that this falsehood shall niger
be without q denial. That 1t 10 false
hood, even the most superficial observs-
ton will attest. There il a great and
growing sentiment among the people Of
Washington Territory against woman
suffrage. This sentiment is almost, II
nos quite, a. powerful among abe
women as 1t Is among the men. Ahalf
hours conversation among those who
compose any miscellaneous gathering
viii convince the most skepsical Of the
truth Of this statement. II 10 therefore
time THAI this misrepresentation Of the
people Of Washington Territory should
cease. Il is time for the coSsrdice
which has tied all tongues to be over
come. II il proper that q denial of
these assertions which are constantly
being msde by suffrsgisls in ether
States shall come directly from Wash.
lngton Territory. II is the duty Of
every fair public Journal 80 give voics to
that denial. and the Posr- INrELLIoEN-
uxR does not propose to avoid that duty.
Bat these reasons are net the snIy
lnes, nor are they the most powerful.
There is another. Woman suffrage is
IN open question in Washington Terri
Iory. II will be such until il Is definite
y passed upon by the voters themselves.
The sadragists apparently forget that
he people have never had an opPortu-
atty TO express their wishes on this Inn
poFtant Question. The suffrage Law
which is nov upon the statute books
vas passed BY 3 Legislature in the
SECTION Of which the Suffrage question
aad not been considered. The passage
II the Law came as q surprise to the
people Of the Territory. They bad
newer had an opportunity 70 pass upon
4, either directly or Indirectly. They
ielt that their representatives had ex.
'eeded their duties IN making such
'adieal change in the Law without esn-
IultiaR In any way the wishes Of their
Woman suffrage was not
ought By the people Of Washington
Territory; II was forced upon them.
was Il not sought by the
women Of this Territory; especially vas
forced upon them. Had the question
'een Submitted 10 the popular vote IL
Eould have been defeated overwheln-
ngly. The opposition to II then has In
lreased rather than diminished in the
hree years that have interviewed.
What the Posi- IsTELLIoKScER de-
hands. and what IL will continue TO
demand 30 losg ss this act Of justice IL
Iehied, is that the people be permitted
o pass directly apon the question Of
soman suffrage, as they shosld be per-
nitted to PASS upon all questions Of
quail Importance. This act Of justice
pas denied when the suffrage Law was
'ssssd. II Is not yet tee late to make
eparitioa for the injustice done Al
hst time. Even with the Law As Il
lands at present. With men and women
9th voting upoa the question, II lie al |
ngsiheE probable thAt woman Suffrage
Ioald be overwhelmingly defeated in |
' Arlington Territory. II the suf-
rAgisss do net believe this 10 Ne true. IL !
hes insist that woman suffrage is q |
sceess. and that after three years Of |
nal the people Of Washington Terri
ny are ia favor Of Il, let them agree
,at the qsestion be submitted to q |
ose Of the men and women Of the Ter
itaFs. Let them sppeal 10 the people. |
be anti-suHragists are nov. and have
'rR been. willing to rest their ease With |
,e voters Of Tie Territory. Unless the
sErasists dvSad tie issue. unlsss then
'alizs thst their ssseEtiOus in regard 10
le popolsF approval Of woman suffrage
r. falss, they viii not shrink from Il
ley wiil rot rsgssd the discussion Of
y qaestioa a. thing forbidden and
nholy.
II The people in their wisdom should
ecids in faSog o. woman suffrage, tie
autest wnald be ended and The verdict
I1st needs hs aeespasd. Bat the people
I'VE not - dsridea. and uztll they DO
} decide, The question Is an opsn
se and the PssT-ISTE11EsExcEn BE-
ives that it can diseass 10 and sin Re
siltlsss Of treAsaa. And IN the mean
ne u proposes 70 tell the wcrla she
ath. Il proposes q deny The assertion
Al the people q wAshineton Terri
~ are a an's IN sOppoEs Of uouan
aEses. or stat Trey fsvss Il or regard
So 9 success. saee assertions are
lss and shsy have been undsassd long
oaxh.